It might be best for Davis to go

-Criticism from Hoosier fans may not quiet even with a strong 2006 finish

-Criticism from Hoosier fans may not quiet even with a strong 2006 finish

February 14, 2006|STAN SUTTON Bloomington Herald-Times

On Nov. 14, 2000, Mike Davis walked out of the locker room en route to the Indiana bench. He later recalled that he was so nervous he had no feeling in his legs. Sixty-five days earlier he had been thrust into one of the worst scenarios a coach could encounter, having been named to succeed Bob Knight without his predecessor's blessing. Davis had to install a new offense because he admittedly wasn't an expert on Knight's motion style. His job, the first as a college head coach, carried an interim tag. Also, he got the job only because fellow assistant John Treloar wisely told IU officials that "co-coaches" wouldn't work. Even during his first game, the applause for Davis was polite at best. His early successes were noteworthy, including a share of the 2002 Big Ten title. But sometime between IU's trip to the 2002 Final Four and Bracey Wright's last 25-footer, the honeymoon ended. Now the question is whether the marriage between IU and Davis can be saved. I'm not sure it can. As someone who doesn't relish Davis taking the abuse he has taken, I'm not sure it should be -- for the coach's sake. Last February athletic director Rick Greenspan released a statement saying he and Davis were committed to returning the IU program "to the level to which Indiana is accustomed and to which we aspire." He didn't define that commitment, but will need to do so in the coming weeks. Davis possibly can save his job with a strong finish, but the clamor against him cannot be missed by Greenspan, who has fired a football coach and a baseball coach since his arrival two years ago. If Davis is to coach a seventh season at IU, he may need to win at least 20 games this season (IU currently has 13) while not losing more than four additional games. Besides the six remaining contests on the schedule, there could be as many as four in the Big Ten Tournament and who knows how many in the NCAA. That is if there is an NCAA. If the Hoosiers' current tailspin continues they could miss out on the national tournament for the third straight season. If so, Greenspan would face an easy decision. Based on recent play, IU could lose any of the six games on the schedule with Sunday's game at Illinois and a Feb. 26 home game against Michigan State being especially tough. Even a March 1 victory at Purdue isn't the lock Indiana fans once thought it would be. If Indiana should win four more regular-season games, two in the Big Ten Tournament and two in the NCAA the Hoosiers would claim a 21-12 record. That would be a realistic goal and might give Greenspan cause not to make a change, especially considering the setback IU received via D.J. White's injury. Still, the Hoosiers need to compete in each of their remaining games. There hasn't been a road loss yet closer than 13 points and there is a difference between a loss and an embarrassment. On Monday Davis blamed the fans and media for his problems. There are plenty of fans willing to take the blame, or the credit, but the negative press isn't going to affect Greenspan's decision. Perhaps the only thing that will is a turnaround in the way the Hoosiers are playing. It's not too late, but the bewitching hour is approaching.